Arkansas Razorbacks All-SEC RB Alex Collins to Declare for NFL Draft
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Arkansas Razorback offense will look dramatically different in 2016 after a loss of another All-SEC performer, junior running back Alex Collins, as announced on Sunday.
Collins’ career at Arkansas was a consistent upward trend in achievement and performance overshadowed by other top performers in the SEC. Collins is one of only three players to ever rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons in the SEC joining Georgia and Arkansas legends Herschel Walker and Darren McFadden.
“Without a doubt this has been one of the most difficult weeks of my life as I try to make the right decision for my future,” Collins said in a statement on the UA athletics website. “After much prayer and discussion with the people who love me, I have made the decision to enter the NFL Draft.”
Collins began his career as a true freshman in 2013 rushing for 1,026 yards with four scores in the middle of a rebuilding project by new head coach Bret Bielema. The Florida native followed up a promising freshman year joining teammate Jonathan Williams as the only two backs in the nation to both rush for over 1,100 yards in 2015 with Collins finding the end zone 12 times on the ground.
The 2016 season was perhaps the sweetest for Bielema, Collins, and Razorback Nation seeing the team post their best win-loss total since Bobby Petrino’s final year in Fayetteville when the Hogs won 11 games in 2011. The 2015 season was an 8-5 roller coaster of ups-and-downs that included a 5-3 mark in SEC play with road wins over Tennessee, then- No. 18 Ole Miss, and then- No. 9 LSU but also included a 1-3 stumble out of the gate with tough losses to Toledo, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M.
Collins tough running mixed with Arkansas’ massive offensive line yielded 1,577 yards on the ground with 20 touchdowns. The strong ground game opened up lanes in the passing attack with senior quarterback Brandon Allen throwing for 3,440 yards with 30 touchdowns against eight interceptions leading FBS in quarterback efficiency.
With success comes departure of talent and Arkansas will certainly feel the sting of lost playmakers next season. Along with Collins, junior offensive guard/tackle Denver Kirkland and first-team All-American tight end Hunter Henry have also declared for the NFL draft bypassing their senior seasons. Collins’ backfield mate in 2014, Jonathan Williams, is bypassing an opportunity to apply for a medical redshirt year to regain his senior season after a preseason injury forced him to sit out the entire 2015 campaign opting to head to the NFL. The other heavy losses on offense include second team All-American senior guard Sebastian Tretola and quarterback Brandon Allen.
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Collins leaves behind a career full of milestones achieved while with the Hogs including holding the single-season rushing touchdown record and moved into second place on the team’s all-time rushing and rushing touchdowns scored list with 3,703 yards and 36 touchdowns; McFadden had 4,590 career rushing yards with 41 touchdowns scored coming up with a single-season best 1,830 yards rushing in 2007 with 16 touchdowns.
Filling in for Collins next year at tailback will be a mix of senior Kody Walker, sophomore Rawleigh Williams, and potentially true freshman Devwah Whaley, a verbal commitment to the 2016 recruiting class. Walker rushed for 394 yards with six touchdowns in 2015 and Williams had 254 yards with one score in seven games but suffered a season ending neck injury that has put his collegiate career on hold for now.
Arkansas could add more depth in the backfield via the 2016 recruiting class with National Signing Day looming on Feb. 3.
Photo credit: wholehogsports.com; Brandon Allen hands off to Alex Collins.